Amusement apparatus



June 25, 1946. I E H, RIDENER l .2,402,843

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1944 -s sheets-sheet 1 Inventor June 25, 1946. lE. H. RxENER 2,402,843,l I

AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. 5, 1944 A i s sheets-*sheet z Y June 25, 1946. VE VH, -RHDENER 2,402,843

' AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Filed Feb. -5, 1944 3 Sheefs-#Sheet 3 Inventor meys Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED OFFICE- EverettH. Ridener, Evansville, Ind., assignorci"- one-half to Wayne F. Ridener, Evansvilleylndsf Application February 5, 1944, Serial No. 521,251,Y Y

1 Thelnvention relates tov amusement apparatus of thetype known as Roundaboutsf An'important objectof the present invention is to provide an amusement device of the above type embodying` stationary, circular and ringshaped platforms disposed in spaced concentric relation to aord an annular slot therebetween, an'l annular ring revolubly `mounted directly beneathl,V thev slot-` and havingv power-operated driving means, and a pluralityl of passenger carsattached atintervals lto. therev'oluble. ring so. as to move withthe cars upon the platforms and create the; impression thatV the cars are running indepenclently,uponA saidY platforms..

Ayfurther object of .the invention is to provide a roundaboutY of ...the above character whereinY simpleand. elicient mounting: andY driving means are-provided forv thezrevoluble ring.

Another object of the inventionis .to provide simple and efficient. meansA forrmountingthe platforms in co-planarrelation in an elevated position and for leveling-them wherever erected.

Another object of the invention is to provide for ready separation of the platforms and their mounting means, as well as to construct the platforms in sections which may be readily taken' apart or assembled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an amusement apparatus of the above character which is comparatively compact, simple and durable in construction, relatively inexpensive and easy to construct and operate, and otherwise well adapted to meet the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an amusement apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1, with the cars omitted.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 1 with the platforms removed.

`Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail View in Vertical section and taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 isa side elevational View of one of the 2 Claims. (011272-48) passenger cars and showing a manner of vattaching, the same to the revoluble-ring.

Figure 6 isa` View similar toY Figure 2,-Ashovving` a modified for-m. of the invention in which rthe driving motor is disposed on the inner platform adjacent its central opening.- y

Referring in detail to thev drawings-the present apparatus includes a supportingy frame em-k bodying a circularv seriesof spaced radialtimbers 5 notched, as at 6, at` the tops of th/ei-rvinner` ends toreceive an annular frame Vmember-1 tol which said timbers are secured by` bolting or the like. Fixed at suitable intervals` tothe outer edge of` annular frame member I and` to theouter endsof theradialtimbers 5 are vertical-barrels.V 8 and 9, respectively, each of which isequipped III may be tightened to impinge the posts-If! an'dv secure the frame in. a levelV position regardless of uneveness in the ground or supporting surface upon which the apparatus is erected.

Disposed upon this supporting frame is an Y inner circular platform I3 and an outer ringshaped platform I4, said platforms being disposed in spaced concentric relation so asfto define an annular slot I5 therebetween. Each platform is preferably composed of a series of similar radial sections secured in abutting relation by bolting the same to the timbers 5 and frame members 'I.

Revolubly mounted directly beneath the slot I5 is a ring I6 that spans the slot I5 and has a central depending ring gear II rigid therewith. Fixed at intervals to certain of the radial timbers 5 are opposed pairs of brackets I8, each carrying a roller I9 engaging an edge of ring I6 and a roller 2li engaging the under face of said ring I6. In this wav, the ring I6 is effectively supported for free rotation, and the radial timbers 5 are slotted downwardly from their upper edges to provide clearance for the ring gear I1.

Suitable means is provided for effectively driving the rotatable ring I6, and this preferably consists of diametrically opposed radial shafts 2| having pinions 22 at their outer ends meshing with the ring gear I1 at oppositev sides of the latter, and having bevel pinions 23 fixed on their inner ends and disposed at opposite sides of and meshing with a further bevel pinion 24 at the center of the platform. Pinion 24 is carried by the inner end of a further radial shaft 25 suitably driven by a motor 26.

Arranged to ride upon the platforms in a circar, and it will thus be seen that the cars are 1 effectively attached to the ring I6 for travel with the latter when said ring I 6 is revolved. Any suitable means may be provided forrpermitting the cars to readily follow the circularpathwhieh they are to travel, the present invention 4not being particularly concerned with the specic car con A struction per se. erably detachably secured or bolted together so that they may be readily assembled or taken aparte., I i mi A Y* Y In operation, the motor 2S yis placed into operationV for driving thev pinions 22 and thereby causing the ring Irto revolve beneath the slot I5. The cars 21, being attached to the ring'v IIS,V will travel in a circular path upon the platforms I3 and I4- above said slot I5, and it will be noted that the arrangement is such as to create the impression that the cars are running independently upon the stationary platforms. The moving parts, except the cars, are effectively covered and protected so as to promote Safety, and the whole construction is very simple, durable and compact. Accordingly, the construction provides for effectively carrying out the stated objects of the invention.` It is, of course, to be understood that yminor-'changes in details of construction-are contemplated such as fall-within the spirit and scope of the inventionY as rclaimedl A's'shown in Figure 6, the-pinion 24', meshing with pinions 23'; may be provided on the lower endof a vertical shaft 25 projecting through the Also, the various parts are pref- 4 central opening of inner platform I3', the shaft 25 having a gear 32 on its upper end meshing with a pinion 32 on the horizontal power shaft 33 of a motor 26' mounted on said platform adjacent said central opening. Shaft 25 may be journaled in a frame 34 mounted across the opening of platform I3', and the gearing and motor may be covered by a casing 35.

Whatlclaimasnew is: Y

l.v An' amusement apparatus of 'the `character described comprising a horizontal frame, circular and ring-shaped stationary platforms mounted upon said frame in spaced concentric relation to dene a circular slot therebetween, said frame comprising a series of uniformly spaced radial timbers having the lplatforms secured upon the upper faces thereof, said timbers having notches under the circular slot, the inner ends of said timbers being notched at the upper sides thereof, an annular frame member received in said notches and secured tothe timbers, a ringv T- shaped in cross-section fpassing# through gthe notches of the-timbers and having thev lovve'rf edge of its depending. Web formed With'gearteeth, brackets carried by said timbers and carrying' rollers engaging side edge vaGesaHd therj under face of said ring at opposite sides of the web;a drive shaft having a gearmeshing with the'gearl teeth ofthe ring to rotate the.V ring and objects over the platform having shankslpa'ssing throughthe slot and xed to tlieringxj..- i I 2; In an amusement apparatusof the character' described, a platform comprising -aiframe inc1udA ing a series of uniformly.- spacedl radialftimbers, vertical barrels attached to the outer` ends of the radial timbers and projecting outwardly therefrom, each barrel having a set screw,- and sup-` porting standards each having a baseI for resting upon the ground and a` postu extending upwardly therefrom, said posts slidably passingithrou'gh the barrels to sustain the frame in a level and predetermined elevated position. EVERE'I'r H.RIDENER.' 

